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John Wang, 17, plays with Eve, an Alaskan husky, in El Monte Thursday afternoon. The dog’s owner was accused of abusing Eve, and was harassed to the point of giving the dog to a nonprofit dog rescue group Thursday night. (Christopher Yee, San Gabriel Valley Tribune/SCNG)

A dog seen in a photo posted to social media last week with its snout and legs restricted by tape was deemed healthy by El Monte Police and city staff checking on the reports of abuse, but questions remain about who taped up the dog, as well as who took the photo.

A spokeswoman said the officers who responded to the home Wednesday found no signs of abuse to the 7-month-old Alaskan Husky named Eve.

They cleared the dog’s owner, Andy Qu, of the abuse allegations streaming in to the city as a result of a photo of the distressed animal posted to Facebook earlier that day.

While police did not suspect him of abusing his pet, Qu said Friday he gave Eve to the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation the night before.

Qu said he found the dog taped up in his backyard when he returned to home Jan. 27. He said he didn’t know who attacked his pet, but that he was facing harassment from people who saw the photo of the dog on Facebook.

Several Facebook pages that shared the photo Wednesday alleged the dog had been abused and left with no food or water. They also included Qu’s home address.

“People have been coming by and knocking on the door saying they want to abduct Eve and take her somewhere safe,” Qu said. “It didn’t feel safe for me or Eve.”

City officials responded to the home twice on Wednesday. Both times investigators did not give the homeowner advanced notice of their arrival.

The city first received a report around 2 p.m. that a dog at the home in the 2800 block of Maxson Road had been abused, with its snout taped shut and its front paws taped tightly together, city spokeswoman Priscilla Segura said.

Staff of the El Monte Animal Control division responded to the home and found the dog to have no visible injuries. They said Eve did not appear distressed or aggressive, Segura said.

Chief David Reynoso said El Monte police received a similar report at 7:55 p.m. Wednesday, prompting officers to visit the home along with Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control staff. They also found the dog to be in good condition and friendly, and Reynoso said Qu cooperated with investigators.

But the officers also notified the California Department of Fish and Wildlife of a fox they found in a cage in the home. Officials with the department seized the unlicensed animal Thursday.

Qu said the fox belonged to a friend, and was unable to get the animal licensed.

Qu said he did not call police Saturday because, as a Chinese immigrant, he felt uncomfortable with law enforcement. But also he wondered why it took until Wednesday for the photo to be posted.

“If the person who took the picture was worried about Eve, why would they wait five days to post it online and not call the police right away,” Qu said.

Police are investigating who taped the dog and are also trying to figure out who took the photo, Reynoso said. He said neighbors told police they had not seen signs the dog was ever abused.

Marc Ching, the foundation’s founder, said Eve was checked by two veterinarians after Qu handed her over Monday night. They found her to be in good shape and in stable condition.

Ching said the foundation specializes in rescuing dogs from the Asian dog meat trade — veterinarians who checked for pressure marks typically appearing on dogs raised for meat found none.

Still, Ching said he believed it was in Eve’s best interest to take her somewhere safe.

“We don’t know what the specifics were in this situation, but the dog is safe and received medical treatment,” Ching said. “I was privileged to have her in my life for one day when she slept at my house and got to play with my kids, who loved her.”

Eve’s future remains uncertain, Ching said — Qu did not give up ownership rights to her when handing her over to the foundation. The dog also remains part of the police investigation into the incident.

Qu disputed the allegations that Eve was underfed, and pushed back against the claims made against him on social media.

“My life was destroyed because of these liars,” Qu said. “I don’t know why they did this, but they destroyed my life.”

Christopher Yee is a reporter for the Pasadena Star-News and San Gabriel Valley Tribune covering cities in the west and central parts of the San Gabriel Valley. He grew up in Monterey Park and studied journalism at East Los Angeles College and UC Berkeley. You may find him at Dodger Stadium or at the Staples Center for L.A. Kings games.

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